Mr Carroll stated: “While the rich vastly increase their wealth, working class people are struggling to make ends meet in a way that we haven’t seen in decades. Inflation is at a 40-year high and set to increase. But contrary to what establishment politicians tell us, price increases are not caused by workers – they are a result of the rampant unregulated actions of wealthy companies.
“In our energy sector, for example, we have seen multiple price hikes in recent months, but at the same time these companies are making record profits. In contrast, working class people are being forced to bear the brunt of crippling costs, while wages and benefit support does not nearly match rising inflation. My constituency office hears regularly from people who are greatly struggling with basic needs like bills and food poverty, it does not have to be this way.
“This is an emergency situation, and we need emergency measures including regulating, capping, and cutting energy costs. The Utility Regulator should have the power to urgently address unjust energy increases. Both the Minister for the Economy and the Communities Minister have a huge role to play, by strengthening the powers of the Utility Regulator and to get urgent financial support to households in need. Ultimately, however, we also need to see moves at government level to take our energy sector into public ownership and under democratic accountability and control.”
ENDS
